William H. Gray III.

• Author: MCCARTHY, KELLY

Dell Computer adds an all-in-one powerhouse -- a church minister, former Congressman, seasoned director, and educational leader -- to its board.

IT'S A TYPICAL Sunday morning at Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia. A choir of approximately 60 makes its way down the aisles to the altar. The organ swells. The assembly lifts its voice. The stage is set. Suddenly, dressed in a floor-length white robe, the Reverend William H. Gray III appears front and center.

With his arrival there is a sense of excitement in the air. Anticipation runs high. Tall and dignified, he has a strong frame and a voice that's as smooth as honey.

He speaks softly at first, almost in a whisper as he reports church business. Then comes his sermon, and the walls reverberate with his every word: "Others say it can't be done, but your soul cries out -- God is able! You might not be able and I may not be able, but God is able! And that my brothers and sisters is a clear testimony!" roars Gray with his arms flung toward heaven.

When DIRECTORS & BOARDS caught up with Rev. Gray following a Sunday morning sermon in November, he had been newly appointed to the board of Dell Computer Corp. For Gray, a former U.S. Congressman who is now president and CEO of United Negro College Fund (UNCF), this brought the total number of his directorships to nine. He also serves on the boards of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Electronic Data Systems Corp., Viacom Inc., Rockwell International Corp., MBIA Inc., Pfizer Inc., Prudential Insurance Co. of America, and Visteon Corp.

As Gray himself will tell you: "I'm much different as a corporate director." In other words, you won't find him singing God's praises to a roomful of executives, nor will the timbre in his voice reach full crescendo while discussing dividend policy, stock splits, or varied corporate governance issues. What shareholders at Dell can expect from the seasoned director and senior minister at the predominantly African-American church for the past 29 years is passion. And of that, they'll get plenty.

Gray was first contacted about the Dell board by an executive search firm. "The first question out of my mouth was, 'Who else is on the board?' Because one of the things you want to look at is the strength of the board. It tells you something about management. And it gives you a feeling for its governance," says Gray. He was encouraged by Dell's impressive roster, which includes AMR Corp. Chairman Donald J. Carty and former CBS...